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Photo: Javier Allegue Barros/Unsplash
Our interactions and relationships with others can open us up to abundant beauty, joy, curiosity, and insight. Consider simple acts of kindness like a smile or someone holding the door open; the different perspectives, skills, and ways of being to which others can introduce us; the incredibly complex and fascinating ways we communicate with one another; the mere chance of our being in the company of others at all…
Practice:
Throughout your day, gently carry the intention to be present in and fully appreciate any moments of connection with others. Try to actively listen to others. Try to make eye contact and smile when you feel moved. Try to embrace moments of engagement with others even when they feel unexpected or challenging or “in the way.” Sense how leaning into an interaction with your full body and heart can change the relationship, opening you to perhaps surprising discoveries about the other person and even yourself. When you find yourself present in moments of connection with others, say, “Wow, thank you.” Observe how this practice makes you feel, noticing any sensations or emotions that arise.
How does more deeply appreciating moments of connection impact you?
What can you learn, love, and savor through your connections with others?
Should you be inspired, please leave a reflection below…
This practice is inspired by Mary Jean Irion’s sublime meditation A Normal Day. Explore the full seven-day A Normal Day practice.
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Thank you for this!
My goal today is to show up as whole as one can be in our blissful brokeness, (vulnerable and at peace), and meet the other in their glorious state of humbled humanity. Then dance with them as they lead and need according to their rythmn and pace. What I like to call, “Empty hands, open heart” in End of Life Companioning.
The impact of others in my life is great great and moving bringing me eternal peace to go onto the next platueau to socialization which is creativity that leads to lively thanks. My experience with life with my daughter father brother and mother and before this husband was eternal strength united in a family bond. My siblings have always anchored revelations of the Lord transpiring hope for the present and future. These was linked time for social with Godliness which was then brought out to the neighbors and community. This has been lasting.
Again an inspiration to write from the beach. An evening walk during high tide so my dog is connected to me via a leash. Connected to keep him close so he doesn’t get taken by the waves crashing on shore. Of course this is my time to connect with the present moment as well as connect to this beautiful place that I get to live in. While walking I see a jellyfish. Beautiful and vibrant that has washed up on the shore. I’m reminded of a story about a little boy who keeps putting the starfish back in the ocean…I think from the course of miracles…anyway…I decide I should help him back to sea as well. I found a rock to help me pick him up. I scoop him and ready to toss him back into the ocean to find that his tentacles were attacked or connected to a large peace of kelp. Scoping the two together I set them back To reconnect with the sea. So much connecting!! Delish!!
Having lived in five countries and visited more than 40 more, I am overwhelmed by our human commonalities and interdependence. It is sometimes difficult to tune out leaders who divide us by dwelling on nationalism or religious exclusivity. Every one of us has the ability to benefit global society as a whole. My focus is working with farmers in developing nations to demonstrate that they can benefit more from preserving forests than destroying them. All of us can find some way of making a positive contribution to the well being of humanity.
Lovely, and I just wrote on this subject in the day’s question section. From prison to palace we are more alike than different. Thank you for your work for us and Mother.
My problem is being connected to others is a great risk to them, because of my being tortured; for e.g., I was going to live in the same area with one of my sisters, but, just us talking about it for a month got her drained of energy to the point where she “could hardly make it from the shower to the bed, she was so weak”- so I had to end that plan. I’m still going to visit her, but, I’ll be in a close hotel only for two weeks; I think ‘they’ will allow that? Yet, as life is relation in motion, evoked by us through our evolving arts, I still find great depth in phone calls, emails, cards- yet, mostly in helping others, etc.. Thanx for all you All do; have a good eve’ 🙂 reality
Family relationships can be very difficult. I’m sorry to hear about your situation. Take good care of yourself.
Thanx for the concern and compassionate thoughts, yet, me and my sis don’t have difficulties, she was being ‘sucked’ by them to negatively effect me; successfully, so, I must choose to keep my distance from her to protect her. Have a great day 🙂 reality
I thought this quote applicable to today’s practice: “A Wisdom way of knowing . . . requires the whole of one’s being and is ultimately attained only through the yielding of one’s whole being into the intimacy of knowing and being known. . . . It doesn’t happen apart from complete vulnerability and self-giving. But the divine Lover is absolutely real, and for those willing to bear the wounds of intimacy, the knowledge of that underlying coherence—“in which all things hold together”—is both possible and inevitable.” Cynthia Bourgeault, The Wisdom Way of Knowing: Reclaiming an Ancient Tradition to Awaken the Heart (Jossey-Bass: 2003), 10.
In all honesty, often when I am with someone, I am not fully present with them. My judgments, labels, thoughts, etc. about that person get in the way. I will truly work on this practice today. I am grateful for this practice, it is very helpful to me! Thank-you!
Peace and blessings to all ???